Proof press for curved printing plates



July 23, 1963 w. 1'. FLOWER ETAL 3,

PROOF PRESS FOR CURVED PRINTING PLATES Fiied July 19. 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Wa/fer 7. Flower Daniel 0. Green BY w ATTORNEY July 23, 1963 w. 1-. FLOWER ETAL. 3,098,435

PROOF PRESS FOR CURVED PRINTING PLATES Filed July 19. 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Walter T. F/ower Daniel 0. Green BY a Z ATTORNEY July 23, 1963 w. T. FLOWER ETAL 3,098,435

PROOF PRESS FOR CURVED PRINTING PLATES FIG. 3

INVENTORS Wa/fer I F/ower Daniel 6. Green ATTORNEY 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 m H m W m E mm 0 w F6 w 1 7 0 A p M ww w Nm W. T. FLOWER ETAL PROOF PRESS FOR CURVED PRINTING PLATES July 23, 1963 Filed July 19, 1960 July 23, 1963 w. T. FLOWER ETAL 3, 5

' PROOF PRESS FOR CURVED PRINTING PLATES Filed July 19, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS War/fer 7T F/ower Dan/e/ 6. Green BY W ATTORNEY July 23, 1963 w T. FLOWER ETAL 3,

PROOF PRESS FOR CURVED PRINTING PLATES Filed July 19. 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 6'

/2 as 27 a; 29 35 49 n I I I 5. .F INVENTORS /& 3.9 40 40' l l a/fer 7. F/ower Dan/e/ 6. Green ATTORNEY Ju1y23, 1963 w. T. FLOWER ETAL 3,

PROOF PRESS FOR CURVED PRINTING PLATES Filed July 19- 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS Wa/fer 7. F/ower Dom'e/ 6. Green ATTORNEY July 23, 1963 w. 1'. FLOWER ETAL 3, 5

PROOF PRESS FOR CURVED PRINTING PLATES 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed July 19. 1960 INVENTORS l l a/fer 7. Flower Daniel 6. Green ATTORNEY its This invention relates to proof presses, and more particularly to an improved proof press adapted for proving curved printing plates used with rotary printing presses having plate cylinders of different diameters. It is also adapted for use with flexible printing plates intended to be curved around a press cylinder.

Heretofore, in order to prove curved printing plates designed for use with printing presses having plate cylinders of specifically different diameters, it has been necessary to provide a separate proof press having a plate cylinder of corresponding different diameter. In accordance with the present invention, proofing of printing plates of different curvatures is accomplished by means of a single proof press wherein, plate cylinder assemblies of different diameters may be interchanged and operated with the racks and other components of the press, thereby eliminating the need of a separate press for each series of plates having a different radius of curvature.

The improved press of the present invention is comprised essentially of a stationary bed, including racks, bearers, and trackways, a plate cylinder carriage movable lengthwise of the bed, a series of interchangeable plate cylinders of different diameters, each of the cylinders having bearer-gear members of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, means for automatically connecting the bearer gear units for driving engagement with the cylinder and for disconnecting said units from the cylinder, means for raising and lowering the cylinder assembly with respect to the bed bearers, means for gripping and registering the proof paper, and a plate cylinder inking device for inking plates placed thereupon.

As will be described more fully hereinafter, the provision of bearer-gear members of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, permits the handling of proving cylinders of different diameters required to satisfy the various diameters of cylinders used in the trade on rotary presses, since by reason of this construction, the circular pitch of the teeth of gears of the bearer-gear units can be kept constant, so that cylinder assemblies of different diameters may be interchanged and operated with the racks mounted on the bed of the press. The novel bearer-gear construction also enables the plate cylinder assemblies to be correlated with respect to the racks so that the cylinder makes less than one (1) complete revolution when actually making the proof.

An object of our invention is to provide an improved proof press for proving curved printing plates for use with printing presses having plate cylinders of different diameters.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved proof press constructed and arranged whereby plate cylinder assemblies of different diameters can be interchanged and operated with the racks and other components of the press.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide an improved plate cylinder assembly wherein the cylinder bearers and gear members, are of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder.

Still another object of our invention is to provide automatically operable means for connecting the cylinderbearer units for driving engagement with the plate cylinder and for disconnecting said units from the plate cylinder.

A further object of our invention is to provide means 3,098,435 Patented July 23, 1963 for clamping and locking the cylinder bearers in positive yet adjustable, tight contact with the bearers of the press bed.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a proof press having an improved inking device mounted in the press bed at the loading end of the press.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to our improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising our invention, may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangements, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make our invention more clearly understood, we have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvements in their useful application to the particular constructions, which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the press of the present invention, showing the printing plate carriage at the loading and inking end of the press;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, showing the carriage near the unloading end of the press;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the press, showing the carriage and associated printing plate cylinder assembly in full lines, positioned at the loading end of the press bed, and in dotted lines at the unloading end of the bed;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, partly in section, and with the housing for the press base removed, showing the arrangement of the inking device at the loading end of the press;

FIG. 4a is a detail view of a modified bearing support for the ends of the form roller shafts;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the loading end of the press bed with the plate cylinder assembly removed, showing the proof paper gripping and registering means;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the carriage, showing the means for raising and lowering the cylinder, and the associated linkage for forcibly moving and retaining the cylinder bearers into tight frictional rolling engagement with the press bed bearers, during the proofing operation;

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the means for automatically connecting or disconnecting the printing plate cylinder to or from the cylinder bearer-gear units;

FIG. 8 is a sectional detail view of an end portion of the plate cylinder assembly, showing the cylinder in lowered position, and the cylinder bearer locked in frictional rolling contact with the bed of the press;

FIG. 9 is an end view of the carriage, showing the cylinder bearer clamping linkage in locked clam-ping position, in full lines, and in released position in dotted lines; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional detail view of the arrangement for restraining the carriage from vertical movement with respect to the press bed, when the cylinder bearer clamping linkage is moved to clamping position.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the press comprises essentially, a base A, a bed B, a plate cylinder carriage C, a plate cylinder assembly D, and a plate cylinder inking device E.

The bed B is a one piece casting formed with end sections 1, 1', side members 2, 2', and a proof sheet supporting section 3, each of the side members having a 'bearer i, a rack supporting flange 5, and a trackway 6. Suitable bumpers 7, to limit the travel of the carriage C. lengthwise of the bed, are mounted in spaced relation on the outer faces 8 of the trackway. The bed, as shown, is supported on a framework 9, enclosed by a cabinet type housing 10, the framework 9, in turn, being supported on adjustable leveling devices ll.

The plate cylinder carriage C, which is adapted for reciprocatory movement on the trackways 6 of the press bed, comprises a pair of standards 12, 12', secured in fixed parallel spaced relation by means of tie rods 13, and pairs of rollers 14 (FIGS. 8 and 9) mounted on stub shafts 15 attached to lower portions of the standards. Each of the standards is formed with a slot 16, the slots constituting guide ways and supports for the bearing members of the plate cylinder assembly D.

For purposes of simplification, the several constituent parts of the mechanisms which are cooperatively associated with the plate cylinder assembly and the carriage, are illustrated in detail at only one side of the press, however, it will be understood that these mechanisms are substantially duplicated at the opposite side of the press, and that they {function simultaneously in the same manner.

As will be seen in FIG. 8, the plate cylinder assembly of each of the interchangeable cylinders comprises a shaft 17, a hollow cylinder 18 keyed thereto, a cylinder bearer 19 and a gear 20 of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, a bearing member 21 for the cylinder shaft, and a hand crank 22 (FIG. 9) secured to the reduced end portion 17' of the shaft. The cylinder gear 20 is adapted for coaction with the rack sections 23 and 24, secured to the flange 5. In connection with the arrangement of the rack sections, it is to be noted that the longer section 24 is mounted in such a manner as to permit slight longitudinal displacement of these sections to prevent slight irregularities between the teeth from causing gear marks on the proofs. The shorter section 23 is held in fixed position on the flange in order to insure registry of the teeth of the cylinder gear 20 with the teeth of the rack section 23 at the start of each proofing operation and on the interchange of the plate cylinder assembly.

One of the important features of the present invention is the provision of means for automatically connecting the bearer-gear units for driving or non-driving engagement with the plate cylinder and for disconnecting said units from the cylinder. As previously indicated, the bearergear members are of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, and the cylinder is adapted to be rotated independently of or together with the bearer-gear members. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be seen that the bearer-gear unit .1920', is mounted for relative rotation with respect to the cylinder, by means of a ball hearing assembly 25, carried by the hub portion 18' of the cylinder.

Cooperative means on the plate cylinder carriage and on the plate cylinder assembly are provided for automatically connecting the bearer-gear units in driving engagement with the cylinder and for disconnecting the units from the cylinder. As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the means for interconnecting the plate cylinder with the bearer-gear unit comprises a cam member 26 and associated cam spring plate 27, supported on the inner face 28 of the standard 12 of the cylinder carriage, a cam follower 29, pivotally mounted on a bracket 30 secured to the outer face 20' of the gear 20, and a locking pin 31 carried by the follower. The cam 26 is formed with oppositely tapered cam faces 32 and 33, designed for coaction with rollers 34 and 35, supported between the spaced parallel arms 36 and 37 of the follower 29, the arms being pivotally mounted, intermediate of the rollers, on a bracket 30 by means of a pivot pin 38. The bearer-gear member 19-20, and the face 18' of the cylinder are apertured, and fitted with bushings 39 and 40 to receive the pin 31, the chamfered end portion 41 thereof being movable into and out of engagement with bushing 40, when the bushings are brought into alignment.

As previously noted, the plate cylinder makes less than one 1) complete revolution when making the proof, and consequently, the cam and the cam follower may be accurately positioned with respect to each other, to insure their coaction when the carriage is at the loading end of the press, that is to say, when the cylinder is in the inking position. It will be understood, that the cylinder and bearer-gears connecting and disconnecting arrangement is so designed, that when the cylinder is in the inking position, it is freely rotatable in one direction, independently of the bearer-gear units, and upon reversal of the direction of rotation the cylinder is automatically coupled with the bearer-gear units for the proving operation.

With reference to the above noted operation, it will be observed that the bushing 40 is formed with an integral beveled segment 40 which projects into a circumferential groove or slot 42, formed in the face 18' of the plate cylinder, and by reason of this construction, it will be apparent that when the chamfered end portion 41 of the locking pin is withdrawn from the bushing 40, with the free end of the pin extending into the groove 42 (FIG. 7), the cylinder is then rotatable independently of its bearer-gear units. Upon rotation of the plate cylinder in one direction, the free end of the locking pin rides in the circumferential groove 42, and when the chamfered end portion 41 of the pin encounters the beveled surface of the segment 40' the pin is raised and passes over the segment, without engaging the bore of the bushing. The cylinder may thus be freely rotated to insure satisfactory inking of the printing plates. The cylinder may be roated more than once, if it is desired to apply a greater quantity of ink to the plate surface before proofing. Upon rotation of the cylinder in a reverse direction, the pin rides in the groove 42 until it abuts the inner lateral surface of the segment, whereupon the bearer-gear unit is caused to rotate with the cylinder, and the carriage begins to move towards the proving bed. Continued rotation of plate cylinder assembly actuates the cam follower, and the locking pin 31 is thereby forced into seated position in the bushing 40. The plate cylinder and the bearergear members are then rotatable as a unit, during the proving operation, and until the carriage is returned to the inking position at the loading end of the press.

It will be understood that when the carriage moves towards the proving bed, the plate cylinder assembly is held down on the press bed during the proofing operation, and that after the proof has been made, the cylinder assembly is raised slightly above the bed, in order to clear the proof sheet packing and the proof, on return movement of the carriage to the inking position. As will be seen in FIG. 8, the standard 12 of the cylinder carriage and the attached bearing block 43, are apertured and fitted with bushings 44 and 45 to receive the reduced portion 46 and the enlarged shoulder 47, respectively, of a shaft 48 having cam members 49 and 50 secured thereto, on opposite sides of the standard, the shaft being adapted for oscillation by means of an actuating arm 51, carried by the shoulder 47. The bifurcated lower end portion of the cylinder shaft bearing 21 rests in bearing engagement with the cam faces 49' and 50', and accordingly, when the shaft 48 is turned in one direction the bearing member is elevated, thus raising the plate cylinder assembly slightly above the press bed. When the plate cylinder assembly is in the raised position, the cylinder bearer 19 is out of contact with the press bed bearer 4, however, the teeth of the cylinder gear remain in driving engagement with the teeth of the rack. When the cam shaft is turned in the opposite direction the cylinder shaft bearing 21 and the plate cylinder assembly are lowered, thus moving the cylinder bearer 19 into contact with the press bed bearer 4. Simultaneously with the lowering of the plate cylinder assembly, the cylinder bearer is clamped into tight frictional engagement with the press bed bearer by means of a clamping mechanism operatively associated with the plate cylinder carriage and the cylinder shaft bearing member.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a link 52, formed with an elongated slot 53, is pivotally mounted at one end of the cylinder shaft bearing member 21 by means of a threaded pivot pin 54, the lower end portion of the link being tapped to receive a bolt 56, to retain a pillow block 57 in adjusted position on the link. The pillow block, which is movable lengthwise of the slot, is held in selected position by a clamping plate 58 adapted to be moved into frictional engagement with the face of the link by means of bolts 59 threadable into the block. A threaded pivot pin 60, positioned in the slot 53, is secured to the lower portion of the cam member 49, whereby to operatively couple the cam with the link. It will be apparent that when the cam shaft 48 is turned in a direction to raise the cylinder shaft bearing 21, the pin 60 moves out of contact with the pillow block 57 and rides upwardly of the slot 53, whereby to swing the link 52 about its pivot pin 54, thus permitting the bearing member to be elevated. Upon reverse movement of the cam shaft, the pin 6t) moves downwardly of the slot into seated position on the pillow block, thereby rigidl clamping the cylinder shaft bearing member against vertical movement with respect to the carriage.

When it is desired to interchange cylinders, that is to say, to substitute a cylinder of different diameter, the link 52 is disconnected from the cylinder shaft bearing 21 by removing the pin 54, thus permitting the plate cylinder assembly, comprising the cylinder, the cylinder bearers and gears, and the cylinder shaft bearing members, to be lifted out of the standard 12 of the cylinder carriage, as a unit. When the link 52 is disconnected from the bearing 21, it slides down until the upper end of the slot 53 engages the pin 60, and after the substitute cylinder assembly has been positioned on the carriage, the pillow block 57 is lowered slightly in the slot, and the link is then connected with the bearing 21, by means of the pivot pin 54. In order to establish clamping tension between the cylinder bearer 19 and the bed bearer 4, the pin 60 is brought into seated position on the pillow block under substantial pressure. To accomplish this, the pillow block is initially moved into seated engagement with the pin 60, while the link 52 is in the vertical position, and subsequently, when the link is moved slightly out of the vertical position by actuation of the cam 4-9, the pin moves a proportional distance upwardly of the slot and out of contact with the pillow block. Thereafter, the pillow block is again brought into seated engagement with the pin, and is retained in adjusted position on the link by means of the bolt 56. When the cam 49 is actuated to move the link into the vertical or straight line position, the link is placed under tension, and the cylinder shaft bearing is pulled downwardly, thereby forcing the cylinder bearer into the desired close frictional engagement with the bed bearer.

It will be apparent, from the foregoing description, that the vertical distance betwen the axis of rotation of the cylinder and the press bed varies with cylinders of different diameters, and that the shaft journals of the replaceable cylinders are located at correspondingly different distances above the bifurcated ends of the bearing members. Since the operative coaction between the elements of the plate cylinder elevating and clamping mechanism, carried by the bearing members and by the carriage, is predicated upon an established relationship between the cam-engaging surfaces of the bearing members and the axis about which the link 52 pivots, it is essential that the distance between the bifurcated ends of these members and the pivotal axis of the link be maintained constant. Accordingly, the desired'operative coaction between the elements is accomplished by locating the pivot pin-receiving apertures in the several replaceable bearing members at equal distances from their respective bifurcated ends.

As previously explained, in connection with the operation of the mechanism for raising and lowering the plate cylinder assembly, and for clamping the same in lowered position on the press bed, when the cam shaft 48 (FIG. 8) is turned in one direction the cylinder shaft bearings are raised, and when it is turned in the opposite direction the bearings are lowered. These sequential operations are automatically instituted by means mounted at selected positions on the press bed adapted for coaction with elements of the carriage and the plate cylinder assembly. Referring to FIG. 3, the means for actuating the cam shaft to lower the plate cylinder as sembly, when the carriage is moved to the inking position, comprises a block 61 of rectangular cross-section, secured to the face 62 of the rack supporting flange 5. The block is positioned on the lower portion of the rack face, and as the carriage approaches the inking posi tion, the cam actuating arm 51 encounters the end 63 of the block and is turned in counterclockwise direction, thereby rotating the cam shaft to lower the cylinder assembly on the press bed.

The means for actuating the cam shaft to raise the plate cylinder assembly, when the carriage is moved to unloading position, comprises a pin 64, carried by a plate 65, detachably mounted on the upper portion of the face 62 of the rack-supporting flange, by means of cap screws 66, threadable into tapped openings 67 (FIG. 9). With reference to the location of the plate, lengthwise of the flange, since the distance traveled by the carriage during its impression stroke varies with cylinders of different diameters, the plate is adapted to be selectively positioned on the flange so that the cam actuating arm 51 will encounter the pin 64 when the carriage reaches the end of its impression stroke. Upon encountering the pin, the arm is turned in a clockwise direction, thereby rotating the cam to raise the plate cylinder assembly slightly above the press bed. It will thus be seen that when a plate cylinder assembly of smaller diameter is substituted for the one shown in FIG. 3, the plate 64 will be located in one of the predetermined positions to the left of that shown, and the carriage bumper 7' will be moved a corresponding distance. Conversely, when a cylinder assembly of larger diameter is substituted, the plate and the carriage bumper are then located to the right of their original positions. As a matter of convenience, the position of one of the plates 64 and one of the bumpers 7 may be fixed for the cylinder assembly of largest diameter, and the detachable plate 64' and bumper 7 employed with cylinder assemblies of less diameter.

When the carriage returns to the loading end of the press, it is held against longitudinal movement during the inking operation, replacement of printing plates and substitution of plate cylinder assemblies, by means of a latch mechanism (FIGS. 3 and 5) comprising spring biased detents 68, adapted for engagement with notched abutment members 70 secured to the press bed. The detents are operatively associated with a shaft 71, journalled in brackets 72 secured to the standards '12 of the carriage, and when the shaft is rotated, by depressing its actuating arm 73, the detents are raised out of latching engagement, thus permitting the carriage to be moved towards the unloading end of the press.

At certain intervals of the operation of the press, the plate cylinder carriage is adapted to automatically actuate mechanism associated with the proof sheet gripping means, and with the inking device. Referring to FIG. 3, the arrangement for actuating the gripping mechanism, comprises an L-shaped bracket 74 having a vertically positioned leg 75 secured to the lower portion of the standard 12, and a horizontal leg 76 extending forwardly of the standard. The leg 76 is formed with an upwardly inclined end ortion 77, adapted for contact with a roller 78 carried by an arm 79, keyed to a shaft 80 of the gripper mechanism. As the carriage approaches the end of its impression stroke, and synchronously with the elevation of the plate cylinder assembly, the end portion of the leg '76 encounters the roller 78 and rotates the shaft 80, thereby releasing the proof sheet gripping means.

The means for actuating one of the components of the 7 inking mechanism, when the carriage reaches the loading end of the press, comprises a bracket 81, having an arm 82 secured to the bottom of the standard 12, and an arm 83, adapted for contact with a laterally projecting member 84, carried by a spring-biased, pivotally mounted inking roller. As the carriage reaches inking position the downwardly extending arm 83 encounters member 84 thereby moving the inking roller out of contact with an adjacent distributor roller, and when the carriage begins to move in the direction of the proof bed, the inking roller automatically returns to its initial position.

The mechanism for retaining the proof sheet in position, during the proofing operation, comprises a series of gripping members 85 (FIG. 4 and mounted for vertical reciprocation in a gripper bar 86, secured to the front end of the proof sheet supporting section 3. Each of the gripper members comprises a stem 87 formed with a relatively large head 88, and a shoulder 89, the head portion of the gripper being normally held in paperclamping position, against the upper surface of gripper bar, by means of a compression spring 96' interposed between the shoulder and the under surface of the bar. The gripper members are adapted to be raised, to release the proof sheet, by means of a cam shaft 91, having axially spaced cam surfaces 92, designed for coaction with the shoulders 89. The cam shaft is journalled in the sides of the press bed, and carries a rocker arm 93 connected to one end of a link 94 by means of a pivot pin 95, the opposite end of the link being pivotally connected to an arm 96, secured to the shaft 80, which is journalled in the press bed supporting framework 9. It will thus be seen that as the carriage approaches the end of its impression stroke, the cam shaft 91 is automatically actuated to raise the grippers from clamping contact with the proof sheet.

In addition to the above described means for automatically raising the grippers when the carriage reaches the unloading end of the press, means are provided whereby the operator of the press may raise the grippers when the carriage is at the loading end of the press. As will be seen in FIG. 4 a rocker arm 97, carried by the cam shaft 91, is pivotally connected as at 93 to the upper section 99 of a bar 100, having a lower off-set section 101, pivotally connected with a treadle number 192. A tension spring 193, supported on a hanger 104 secured to the press bed, is connected to the off-set portion 105 of the bar, and when the treadle is depressed the rocker arm is turned in the clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, to rotate the cam shaft and elevate the gripping members to released position.

In order to accurately position a proof sheet on the proofing section of the press bed, suitable registering means are provided, comprising aligning members 196 and 107, (FIG. 5) adjustably supported on the gripper bar 36. The member 106 is formed with an arm 108, adapted for engagement with the side edge of the proof sheet to align the sheet longitudinally of the proving section, and members 167 serve to align the front edge of the sheet in clamping position on the gripper bar.

An important feature of the present invention is the construction and arrangement of the printing plate inking means at the loading end or station of the press bed. While the description of the components of the inking device, to be set forth hereinafter, will be directed to the manner in which they are operatively supported within the press bed at one side thereof, it will be understood that the components are supported in like fashion at the opposite side of the press. Referring to FIG. 4, the improved inking arrangement comprises an inking distributor roller Hi9, operatively associated with a master inking drum 110, a pair of rollers 111, and a pair of rollers 112, adapted to transfer ink to the form rollers 113. The master inking drum is adapted to be rotatively driven by a belt 114, maintained in frictional driving engagement with pulleys 115 and 116, of the roller 110 and a motor 117, respectively, by means of a suitable 'belt tensioning device 118. The drum shaft is supported in an adjustable trunnion 119 mounted on the upper end of an arm 12f) slidably mounted on a bracket 121 secured to the side of the press, the lower end of the arm being pivotally connected, as at 122, to a link 123 keyed to a fulcrum shaft 124. The opposite end of the link is apertured to receive one end of a cross rod 125, provided with a hanger 126 adapted to support a weight member 127, whereby the longer section 128 of the link is biased downwardly, and thus maintains the form rollers 113 in their raised inking position. Means are provided for manually raising and lowering the link section 128, comprising a lever 129 secured to a shaft 130, an eccentric collar 131 attached to the shaft, and an arm 132, adapted for seated engagement with the under surface of the cross rod 125, supported on the collar. By means of the above described arrangement, it will be seen that the form rollers 113 are yieldingly supported in contact with the printing plates, during the inking operation, and that when the lever 129 is moved in a direction to raise the link section 128, the form rollers are lowered, out of contact with the plates.

In lieu of yieldingly supporting the form rollers for movement into and out of contact with the printing plates, the rollers may be retained in fixed inking position by means of bearings 133 (FIG. 4a) adjustably mounted on a support 134 secured to the side of the press. In the modified supporting arrangement for the form rollers, biasing weights are not required, since the rollers always remain in the inking position.

As is customary in the art, in order to improve the printing impression, a packing sheet or sheets is interposed between the proof sheet and the proving section of the press bed. In accordance with the present invention one end of a packing sheet 135 (FIG. 4) is clamped between the gripper bar 86 and the front face of the proofing section 3, the opposite end of the sheet being detachably secured to a tensioning reel or roller 136, journalled in the sides of the press. After the packing sheet has been suitably tensioned into contact with the upper surface of the proofing section, the roller is maintained in the tensioning position by means of a pawl 137 adapted for locking engagement with the roller shaft.

In the operation of our improved press, assuming that the plate cylinder carriage C is at the loading end of the press (FIGS. 3 and 4), and that the printing plates have been locked on the cylinder 18, and a proof sheet P has been positioned on the proving section of the press bed, the cylinder is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed on FIG. 4, to ink the plates. As previously explained, when the carriage is in the inking position, the cylinder bearers are clamped into tight frictional engagement with the bed bearers, the cylinder gears are in mesh with the bed racks, and the cylinder is disengaged from the bearer-gear units. After the plates have been inked, the cylinder is rotated in a reverse direction until the cam actuated locking pins 31 (FIG. 7) engage the cylinder. The carriage latch 73 is then released, and upon continued rotation of the plate cylinder assembly, the carriage is propelled towards the unloading end of the press. Durmg its impression stroke the carriage is propelled by the frictional driving engagement of the cylinder bearers with the bed bearers and the gears with the racks. As the carriage reaches the end of its impression stroke, the plate cylinder is slightly elevated by the cam 49, and simultaneously with the elevation of the cylinder assembly, the proof sheet grippers are automatically released to permit removal of the sheet.

During the non-impression stroke of the carriage, that is to say while the carriage is being returned to the loading end of the press, the cylinder assembly remains in the elevated position, so as to clear the packing sheet, and the carriage is then propelled solely by reason of the meshing engagement of the cylinder gears with the bed 9, racks. As the carriage approaches the inking position, the inking distributor roller 109 is moved out of contact with the master inking drum 110. The cam 49 is then automatic-ally actuated to lower the cylinder assembly and clamp the cylinder bearers into frictional engagement With the bed bearers. At the same time, the cam follower 30 (FIG. 7) engages the cam 26 to disengage the pin 31 from the plate cylinder, and when the carriage reaches the end of the non-impression stroke, it abuts the bumper 7, and is held against forward movement of the press bed by means of the latch 73. The printing plates are then inked, as above described, and the proofing cycle is repeated.

When it is desired to replace a cylinder assembly, the tension on the clamping link 52 (FIG. 6) is relieved by loosening the bolt 56 and the pillow block clamping plate 57, to permit ready removal of the pivot pin 54, and thereby disconnect the cam-link mechanism from the cylinder shaft bearing members 21. The plate cylinder assembly, including the bearing members, may then be lifted out of the carriage, and subsequently replaced with an assembly of different diameter.

While the invention has been described as embodied in proof press for single impression proofing, it will be understood that the basic concepts may be similarly embodied in a multi-color proof press. Such a multi-color press may comprise a carriage, having two or more cylinder assemblies of the type described, supported thereon in horizontally spaced relation, and adapted for cooperative action with individual inking devices correspondingly spaced on the press bed. It will be further understood that by substitution of a suitable ink fountain and a doctor blade assembly for the described inking device, the press may be employed for proving wrap-around letter press or gravure plates or cylinders.

The present invention also comprehends the use of a divided or split ink fountain arrangement to handle two different colors at the same time. The inking rollers may, for example, be formed with cut-out portions intermediate their lengths in order to prevent bleeding or mixing of one color into the other due to the reciprocating movement of the vibrating rollers which spread the ink evenly before applying it to the printing plate. An additional compartmented ink fountain may be provided, or the ink fountain of the present press may be partitioned to form two longitudinally spaced fountains, whereby the press may be used for proofing two colors side by side, using but one set of inking rollers.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, we wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a proof press for proving printing plates of different curvatures, utilizing replaceable plate cylinders of correspondingly different curvatures, a stationary press bed, a plate cylinder carriage movable lengthwise of the bed, a plate cylinder assembly, including a cylinder having a bearer and a gear of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, removably mounted on the carriage, and means to couple the cylinder and the bearer-gear member for rotation as a unit and to release the cylinder for rotation independently of the bearer-gear member comprising a cam secured to the carriage and a cam follower pivotally mounted on the cylinder gear, said cam follower incorporating pin means movable into and out of locking engagement with the cylinder and the cylinder bearer-gear member.

2. In a proof press for proving printing plates of different curvatures, utilizing replaceable plate cylinders of correspondingly different curvatures, a stationary press bed, a plate cylinder carriage movable lengthwise of the bed, a plate cylinder assembly, including a cylinder having a bearer and a gear of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, removably mounted on the carriage, means to couple the cylinder and the bearer-gear member for rotation as a unit and to release the cylinder for rotation independently of the bearer-gear member, comprising a cam secured to the carriage and a cam follower pivotally mounted on the cylinder gear, said cam follower incorporating pin means movable into and out of locking engagement with the cylinder and the cylinder bearer-gear member, means to raise the plate cylinder assembly slightly above the press bed when the carriage reaches the end of its impression stroke, and means to lower the plate cylinder assembly when the carriage reaches the end of its non-impression stroke.

3. In a proof press for proving curved printing plates, a stationary press bed, a plate cylinder carriage movable lengthwise of the bed, a plate cylinder, having a bearer and a gear separate from the cylinder, rotatably supported on the carriage, means to couple the cylinder and the bearer-gear member for rotation as a unit and to release the cylinder for rotation independently of the bearer-gear member, comprising a cam secured to the carriage and a cam follower pivotally mounted on the cylinder gear, said cam follower incorporating pin means movable into and out of locking engagement with the cylinder bearer-gear member.

4. In a proof press for proving curve-d printing plates, comprising a stationary bed having a bearer and a rack on its upper surface at each side thereof, an inking device mounted on the bed adjacent one end thereof, a plate cylinder carriage reciprocally movable lengthwise of the bed, a plate cylinder having a coaxially associated cylinder bearer and rack-engaging gear unit separate from the cylinder, means for journalling the plate cylinder and the cylinder bearer-gear unit on the carriage, said journalling means being vertically movable with respect to the carriage, automatically operable means to lower the journalling means when the cylinder overlies the inking device, and means for disengaging the cylinder and bearergear unit at such overlying position whereby the cylinder is rotatable in one direction independently of the bearergear unit.

5. In a proof press for proving printing plates of different curvatures, utilizing replaceable plate cylinders of correspondingly different curvatures, a stationary press bed provided with a rack and a bearer on its upper surface at each side thereof, a plate cylinder carriage reciprocally movable lengthwise of the bed, a plate cylinder assembly, including a cylinder having bearers and gears of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, removably mounted on the carriage, means to couple the cylinder and a bearer-gear member for rotation as a unit and to release the cylinder for rotation independently of the bearer-gear member, comprising a cam secured to the carriage and a cam follower pivotally mounted on the cylinder gear, said cam follower incorporating pin means movable into and out of locking engagement with the cylinder and the cylinder bearer-gear member, means to raise the plate cylinder assembly slightly above the press bed when the carriage reaches the end of its impression stroke, and means for lowering the plate cylinder assembly and clamping the cylinder bearers into tight frictional driving engagement with the bed bearers when the carriage reaches the end of its non-impression stroke.

6. In a proof press for proving plates utilizing plate cylinders of different curvatures, a stationary press bed having a loading station at one end, a plate cylinder carriage movable lengthwise of the bed away from and toward said loading station, a plate cylinder assembly including a cylinder having bearers and gears of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, removably mounted on the carriage, means to couple the cylinder and the bearer-gear members for rotation as a unit and to release the cylinder for rotation and independently of the bearer-gear members, printing press inking means disposed in the press bed below the plate cylinder at the loading station comprising an inking distributor roller operatively associated with a master inking drum, two or more pairs of rollers disposed above said master inking drum, with the lowermost pair in engagement there with and the uppermost pair engageable with the printing plate on the printing cylinder, a vertically movable mounting for said master drum and said pairs of rollers, and biasing means normally urging said drum and rollers upwardly to engage said uppermost pair with said printing plate to transfer ink thereto.

7. In a proof press for proving plates utilizing plate cylinders of different curvatures, a stationary press bed having a loading station at one end, a plate cylinder carriage movable lengthwise of the bed away from and toward said loading station, a plate cylinder assembly, including a cylinder having bearers and gears of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, removably mounted on the carriage, means to couple the cylinder and the bearer-gear members for rotation as a unit and to release the cylinder for rotation and independently of the bearer-gear members, printing press inking means disposed in the press bed below the plate cylinder at the loading station comprising an inking distributor roller operatively associated with a master inking drum, two or more pairs of rollers disposed above said master inking drum, with the lowermost pair in engagement therewith and the uppermost pair selectively engageable with the printing plate on the printing cylinder, a vertically movable mounting for said master drum and said pairs of rollers, biasing means normally urging said drum and rollers upwardly to engage said uppermost pair with said printing plate to transfer ink thereto, and manually operable means for overcoming said biasing means to dis engage said uppermost pair of rollers from said printing plate.

8. In a proof press for proving plates utilizing plate cylinders of different curvatures, a stationary press bed having a loading station at one end, a plate cylinder carriage movable lengthwise of the bed away from and toward said loading station, a plate cylinder assembly, including a cylinder having bearers and gears of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, removably mounted on the carriage, means to couple the cylinder and the bearer-gear members for rotation as a unit and to release the cylinder for rotation and independently of the bearer-gear members, printing press inking means disposed in the press bed below the plate cylinder at the loading station comprising an inking distributor roller operatively associated with a master inking drum, two or more pairs of rollers disposed above said master inking drum, with the lowermost pair in engagement therewith and the uppermost pair engageable with the printing plate on the printing cylinder, a pair of vertically movable mounting arms for said master inking drum and rollers, a pivoted lever connected to the lower end of each mounting arm, and a weight supported from the opposite ends of said pivoted levers to normally bias said drum and rollers upwardly to engage said uppermost pair with said printing plate to transfer ink thereto.

9. In a proof press for proving plates utilizing plate cylinders of different curvatures, a stationary press bed having a loading station at one end, a plate cylinder carriage movable lengthwise of the bed away from and toward said loading station, a plate cylinder assembly, including a cylinder having bearers and gears of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, removably mounted on the carriage, means to couple the cylinder and the bearer-gear members for rotation as a unit and to release the cylinder for rotation and independently of the bearer-gear members, printing press inking means disposed in the press bed below the plate cylinder at the loading station comprising an inking distributor roller operatively associated with a master inking drum, two or more pairs of rollers disposed above said master inking drum, with the lowermost pair in engagement therewith and the uppermost pair selectively engageable with the printing plate on the printing cylinder, a pair of vertically movable mounting arms for said master inking drum and rollers, a pivoted lever connected to the lower end of each mounting arm, a weight supported from the opposite ends of said pivoted levers to normally bias said drum and rollers upwardly to engage said uppermost pair with said printing plate to transfer ink thereto, and a manually operable lever engaging the biased end of said pivoted levers to raise the same against the action of the weight to lower the mounting arms for the master drum and rollers to disengage the uppermost pair of rollers from the printing plate.

10. In a proof press for proving printing plates of different curvatures, utilizing replaceable plate cylinders of correspondingly different curvatures, a stationary press bed provided with a rack and a bearer on its upper surface at each side thereof; a plate cylinder carriage reciprocally movable lengthwise of the bed to provide alternately impression and non-impression strokes; a plate cylinder assembly, including a cylinder having bearers and gears of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, removably mounted on the carriage; means to couple the cylinder and a bearer-gear member for rotation as a unit and to release the cylinder for rotation independently of the bearer-gear member; means for lowering the plate cylinder assembly and clamping the cylinder bearers into tight frictional driving engagement with the bed bearers at the end of a non-impression stroke; and means to raise the plate cylinder assembly slightly above the press bed when the carriage reaches the end of its impression stroke and to maintain the plate cylinder in such raised position until it reaches the end of its non-impression stroke.

11. In a proof press for proving printing plates of different curvatures, utilizing replaceable plate cylinders of correspondingly different curvatures, a stationary press bed provided with a rack and a bearer on its upper surface at each side thereof; a plate cylinder carriage reciprocably movable lengthwise of the bed to provide alternately impression and non-impression strokes; a plate cylinder assembly, including a cylinder having bearers and gears of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, removably mounted on the carriage; means to couple the cylinder and a bearer-gear member for rotation as a unit and to release the cylinder for rotation independently of the bearer-gear member; means for lowering the plate cylinder assembly and clamping the cylinder bearers into tight frictional driving engagement with the bed bearers at the end of a non-impression stroke whereby the carriage may be advanced through another impression stroke; and means to raise the plate cylinder assembly slightly above the press bed when the carriage reaches the end of its impression stroke and to maintain the plate cylinder in such raised position until it reaches the end of its nonimpression stroke.

12. In a proof press for proving printing plates of different curvatures, utilizing replaceable plate cylinders of correspondingly different curvatures, a stationary press bed prdovied with a rack and a bearer on its upper surface at each side thereof; a plate cylinder carriage reciprocally movable lengthwise of the bed to provide alternately impression and non-impression strokes; a plate cylinder assembly, including a cylinder having bearers and gears of unitary construction, separate from the cylinder, removably mounted on the carriage; means to couple the cylinder and a bearer-gear member for rotation as a unit and to release the cylinder for rotation independently of the bearer-gear member; means for lowering the plate cylinder assembly and clamping the cylinder bearers into tight frictional driving engagement with the bed bearers at the end of a non-impression stroke, whereby the car- 13 riage may be advanced through an impression stroke; means to raise the plate cylinder assembly slightly above the press bed when the carriage reaches the end of its impression stroke and to maintain the plate cylinder in such raised position until it reaches the end of its non-impression stroke; and an inking device mounted on the bed adjacent one end thereof so that said cylinder will overlie said inking device at the end of a non-impression stroke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Samuel June 2, 1891 Morgan June 26, 1906 Bacon May 6, 1913 Luck Sept. 18, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 7, 1936 

1. IN A PROOF PRESS FOR PROVING PRINTING PLATES OF DIFFERENT CURVATURES, UTILIZING REPLACEABLE PLATE CYLINDERS OF CORRESPONDINGLY DIFFERENT CURVATURES, A STATIONARY PRESS BED, A PLATE CYLINDER CARRIAGE MOVABLE LENGTHWISE OF THE BED, A PLATE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING A CYLINDER HAVING A BEARER AND A GEAR OF UNITARY CONSTRUCTION, SEPARATE FROM THE CYLINDER, REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE CARRIAGE, AND MEANS TO COUPLE THE CYLINDER AND THE BEARER-GEAR MEMBER FOR ROTATION AS A UNIT TO RELEASE THE CYLINDER FOR ROTATION INDEPENDENTLY OF THE BEAR-GEAR MEMBER 